Patna: RJD MLA Bhai Birendra on Wednesday drew flack for calling chief minister Nitish Kumar "Shikhandi (a character in the Mahabharat who was half male and half female).
Birendra, who represents Maner constituency, was reacting to the issue of Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Choubey and Choubey's son Arjit Shashwat fomenting trouble in the state.
Giriraj's name has cropped up for inciting crowds and asking them to raise slogans of "DSP Murdabad" in Darbhanga, while Shashwat has been made named accused for taking out a motorcycle rally in Bhagalpur amid simmering communal tension there.
"The chief minister is sitting on the lap of the RSS and the BJP,"Birendra said. "There is a big difference between what he says and what he does. He has proved himself to be Shikhandi."
Speaking to journalists on the premises of Bihar Legislative Assembly, Birendra said there is never a correlation between Nitish's words and acts. He said that everyday Nitish makes an announcement and forgets it. "The only motive Nitish ji has is to make speeches," Birendra said. "He has nothing to do with the people of Bihar. On his instructions, the BJP is all out to communalise society. Just saying that will not compromise with people causing social strife will not help. He's supposed to take action. Why has no action been taken against Giriraj and Ashwini Choubey's son. Both should be arrested," he said.
Birendra said the RJD wants to establish the rule of law in the state but this was not possible without government support.
JDU MLC and party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar slammed Birendra.
"Most RJD leaders are illiterate and such words can only be used by one who has pursued education from a Charwaha Vidyalaya (school for cattlegrazers)," Neeraj said. " He must have been rattled by how Nitish ji sent ruling party leaders (read Rajballav Yadav and Mohammad Shahabuddin) to jail while being in the Grand Alliance. Using such words now shows the culture of the RJD."
BJP spokesperson Sanjay Singh Tiger echoed the same saying the party strongly condemns use of such language against the chief minister, calling it "unparliamentary".
